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Have any of you guys done any of the whale watching excursions on the alaska cruises? I'm just looking into the possibility of going next august and wondered if there were any you would recommend?
Also does anyone have any experience of the crab boat tour from deadliest catch? I'm gonna try and hook the hubby on that point as he's a big fan!!
Thanks
We did the whale watching in Juneau in 2011 and we enjoyed it, although we weren't lucky and didn't see much. Our friends went out later in the day and saw lots more than us, so it really is luck of the draw.
When in August? We're planning on the final sailing of the season next year, leaving on 31 August....
We did our whale watching in Vancouver before the cruise as we really wanted to see Orca and we had read that Vancouver was our best bet for that. (Humpbacks can be commonly seen here on the East Coast but not Orca so that was the big draw for us). We did see a pod of 20 or so!!! We went out with Wild Whales Vancouver. Sorry, can't help with the whale watch excursions on the cruise.
We did the whale watching in Juneau in 2011 and we enjoyed it, although we weren't lucky and didn't see much. Our friends went out later in the day and saw lots more than us, so it really is luck of the draw.
When in August? We're planning on the final sailing of the season next year, leaving on 31 August....
Thinking of the 24th august then we can have a few days in Canada either side of it before school starts again for my daughter. Depends on flight costs so desperately waiting for them to be released so I can see if its doable! Been home for 2 weeks now since our first cruise on the dream and missing it every day!
Quote:
Originally Posted by HollyH
We did our whale watching in Vancouver before the cruise as we really wanted to see Orca and we had read that Vancouver was our best bet for that. (Humpbacks can be commonly seen here on the East Coast but not Orca so that was the big draw for us). We did see a pod of 20 or so!!! We went out with Wild Whales Vancouver. Sorry, can't help with the whale watch excursions on the cruise.
Wow that would be amazing! Bet you were squealing. If my plans comes together I'll seek them out in vancouver, thanks for the tip
Thinking of the 24th august then we can have a few days in Canada either side of it before school starts again for my daughter. Depends on flight costs so desperately waiting for them to be released so I can see if its doable! Been home for 2 weeks now since our first cruise on the dream and missing it every day!
Maybe we'll wave at you as we set off on our cruise then, as it sounds like we'll be following on from you....
Thinking of the 24th august then we can have a few days in Canada either side of it before school starts again for my daughter.
Wow that would be amazing! Bet you were squealing. If my plans comes together I'll seek them out in vancouver, thanks for the tip
A couple of tips based on this info you have shared.......
Wild Whales Vancouver guarantees that you'll see whales or you can get another whale watch trip for free. Because of this, and as you may spend some time pre and post cruise in Vancouver, I would schedule your whale watch trip early in your pre-cruise stay. That way if you don't see Orca on your first whale watch trip, you have some rescheduling options.
There is a "local" pod of Orca in the Vancouver area and the whale watch companies try to keep track of where they are. They will tell you that your trip can be as short as 3 hours, or as long as 7 hours, depending on how far you have to travel to get to the whales. The time actually spent with the whales is regulated so that won't vary, but your travel time to get there probably will. We were told that we were going "to get our money's worth" as the Orca had been spotted pretty far away the day we went. We ended up traveling back to Washington State (the San Juan Islands) to see the Orcas and were on the boat pretty close to 7 hours total. On the trip to the whales, we went pretty fast (as they are wild animals and could move anytime they want so we needed to get there before they moved), but the ride back was more leisurely. Gorgeous scenery along the way and we also saw seals and eagles on the trip. An amazing experience!!! Be sure to bring some food with you. We picked up some things at Granville Island (Wild Whales Vancouver is located here) before we got on the boat.
We actually saw whales when we were having dinner one night at Palo it was AMAZING!
I read into the Deadliest Catch excursion for our trip but it didn't work out for us. Here is the details from the excursion:
Bering Sea Crab Fishermen's Tour (Ages 5 & Up) (KE-28)
Welcome aboard the Aleutian Ballad, as seen on season 2 of the Discovery Channel’s Deadliest Catch! Watch the brave fishermen haul crab pots and long line fishing gear. Listen to their fascinating stories and enjoy the beauty and wildlife of Alaska.
On this tour Guests will:
Take an easy walk from your cruise ship to the Aleutian Ballad. Board the vessel and meet the crew who will share with you the great history of the boat and give you an overview of the fascinating things you will see on tour.
Set sail from the Ketchikan pier and head for the rich waters of the Inside Passage and Annette Bay.
Arrive at the first stop and watch the skilled Bering Sea crab fishermen bait and drop long line fishing gear in search of halibut, rock fish, shark and more. Haul in the long line and see what the catch of the day is!
Continue sailing in search of wildlife, including bald eagles, whales, sea lions and seals.
Watch one of the highlights of the tour :hauling in the 700-pound king crab pots! A catch of golden king crab and snow crab are sure to delight. All the catch is placed in an on-deck aquarium, so you can get an up-close look at these amazing marine animals you may never see again. Take lots of pictures and maybe even hold in your hand some of the creatures of the deep — if you dare!
Next, is a barrel pot fishing demonstration: octopus and wolf eels are familiar catches in the barrel pots.
Finally, witness Dungeness crab and prawn and shrimp fishing—these little guys are amazing!
Leave the fishing grounds and conclude your approximate 3-hour adventure by heading back to the pier in Ketchikan. Enjoy the captivating stories from the crew as they share what life is really like as a Bering Sea Crab Fisherman!
Cost Per Person: $179.00 10 years & older / $99.00 Ages 5 - 9 Age Requirements:
No one under 5 allowed on shore excursion due to age limits and safety concerns
An adult 18 or older must accompany Disney Cruise Line Guests under 18.
Meeting Time & Location: Meeting times and location are still to be determined Note: Times listed in Seaware and on www.disneycruise.com are the correct meeting times. Duration (includes transportation and meeting times): 3 - 3.5 hours
Tour duration times are estimated and may vary considerably due to circumstances such as traffic or overcrowding of venues Children/Babysitting: Guest should check for availability of Flounder's Reef Nursery online at www.disneycruise.com > Planning Center > My Cruise Plans > Children’s Registration. Please note that in order for a Guest to pre-reserve specific times at the nursery, the child first has to be registered. Disney's Oceaneer Club and Disney's Oceaneer Lab open at 9:00am. Wheelchair Accessible: This tour is wheelchair accessible. Guests should notify Disney Cruise Liner at least 24 hours prior to sailing so that arrangements can be made with the tour operator. Restrictions:
· Expectant mothers should check with their physician Transportation:
Ship
Equipment (Provided and/or Available to Rent):
· Rain ponchos and waterproof jackets are available for use during the tour Requirements:
Guests should dress warmly, in layers and carry rain gear
Food and Beverage: Coffee, tea and hot chocolate are included Shopping: Available Recommended to Bring: Key to the World Card, shore excursion voucher, small amount of cash, sunscreen, sunglasses, additional clothing, camera and backpack Activity Level: Mild
A few more whale tips. Orcas swim differently than humpbacks -they are more like dolphins so they are easier to see as they regularly "arc" out of the water.
We also saw humpback whales and pacific white-sided dolphins while on the Wonder. For humpbacks, keep your eyes open for spouts. A large pod of dolphins swam along the ship at one point. For something like that, the captain will make an announcement and tell you where they have been spotted.
Now I'm really wanting to go back for another AK cruise ! It was an amazing experience. I'm sure your family will enjoy it.
Maybe we'll wave at you as we set off on our cruise then, as it sounds like we'll be following on from you....
I'll keep you posted!!! I will wave you off if all goes to plan
Quote:
Originally Posted by HollyH
A couple of tips based on this info you have shared.......
Wild Whales Vancouver guarantees that you'll see whales or you can get another whale watch trip for free. Because of this, and as you may spend some time pre and post cruise in Vancouver, I would schedule your whale watch trip early in your pre-cruise stay. That way if you don't see Orca on your first whale watch trip, you have some rescheduling options.
There is a "local" pod of Orca in the Vancouver area and the whale watch companies try to keep track of where they are. They will tell you that your trip can be as short as 3 hours, or as long as 7 hours, depending on how far you have to travel to get to the whales. The time actually spent with the whales is regulated so that won't vary, but your travel time to get there probably will. We were told that we were going "to get our money's worth" as the Orca had been spotted pretty far away the day we went. We ended up traveling back to Washington State (the San Juan Islands) to see the Orcas and were on the boat pretty close to 7 hours total. On the trip to the whales, we went pretty fast (as they are wild animals and could move anytime they want so we needed to get there before they moved), but the ride back was more leisurely. Gorgeous scenery along the way and we also saw seals and eagles on the trip. An amazing experience!!! Be sure to bring some food with you. We picked up some things at Granville Island (Wild Whales Vancouver is located here) before we got on the boat.
Quote:
Originally Posted by HollyH
A few more whale tips. Orcas swim differently than humpbacks -they are more like dolphins so they are easier to see as they regularly "arc" out of the water.
We also saw humpback whales and pacific white-sided dolphins while on the Wonder. For humpbacks, keep your eyes open for spouts. A large pod of dolphins swam along the ship at one point. For something like that, the captain will make an announcement and tell you where they have been spotted.
Now I'm really wanting to go back for another AK cruise ! It was an amazing experience. I'm sure your family will enjoy it.
Wow, thankyou so much for this great info, it sounds awesome, I would be happy just to travel over to do that never mind the cruise
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Wow, thankyou so much for this great info, it sounds awesome, I would be happy just to travel over to do that never mind the cruise
You're welcome ! This is the kind of info I would like to know before a trip so I'm happy to provide it for someone else.
FWIW, we loved our time in Vancouver (3 days pre cruise) as much as we loved the cruise -and we loved that a lot! We wished that we had more time there. If there is anything else you want to know, feel free to ask.
You're welcome ! This is the kind of info I would like to know before a trip so I'm happy to provide it for someone else.
FWIW, we loved our time in Vancouver (3 days pre cruise) as much as we loved the cruise -and we loved that a lot! We wished that we had more time there. If there is anything else you want to know, feel free to ask.
Thanks so much, I really appreciate your advice! I've really set my heart on it now, we can definately afford the cruise just hoping the flights don't make it over budget! Don't think I can wait til 2016!
I believe Colexis Mom and her family did the Deadliest Catch tour and enjoyed it She's got a great trip report on Alaska with the kids).
I did a whale watching tour in Juneau with Harv and Marv. It was mid-May, and the weather ended up being terrible so we only saw two whales. I would do whale watching in Juneau again, hoping for better weather
I believe Colexis Mom and her family did the Deadliest Catch tour and enjoyed it She's got a great trip report on Alaska with the kids).
I did a whale watching tour in Juneau with Harv and Marv. It was mid-May, and the weather ended up being terrible so we only saw two whales. I would do whale watching in Juneau again, hoping for better weather
It's booked!!!! 3 days in vancouver, then it's hello disney wonder on the 24th of august followed by 4 days in whistler! Went for a cat 5c, room 6628. Eeeeeek, countdown begins now
Congrats! We sail in July. I'm also trying to decide where to do whale watching, and Holly has me thinking about Vancouver now. I just booked our tour for Skagway yesterday, and I'm on the list for the White Pass railroad - but apparently they won't start booking until fall. I'd requested July 9, and they emailed asking if I meant August 9, since it was already July 18. Nope, 9th is correct - for 2015!
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